RU2643937C2 - Device for detecting chemical indicator - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics.

SUBSTANCE: device for detecting the chemical indicator comprises a housing including: a viewing hole, a means for providing illumination, and test tube seats made in such a way that a viewer sees the test tubes on the side at an angle more or less perpendicular to the direction of illumination, wherein the device comprises, at least, two windows, which are interchangeable.

EFFECT: increasing qualitative and quantitative detection of various chemical indicators.

18 cl, 6 dwg

Description

CROSS RELATIONS TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority of provisional application US No. 61665584, filed June 28, 2012 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the contents of which are fully incorporated into this description by reference, including, but not limited to those parts that appear later, when hereby, inclusion by reference is made with the following condition: if any part of the aforementioned application is contrary to this application, this application replaces the aforementioned application.

STATEMENT REGARDING THE RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT SPONSORED FROM THE FEDERAL BUDGET

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND

1. The technical field to which the present invention relates.

[0001] The present invention relates generally to a device for laterally observing a chemical indicator. More precisely, but not necessarily exclusively, the present invention relates to a simple portable and inexpensive device for detecting the presence of a chemical indicator in a reaction vessel.

2. Description of the prior art

[0002] The read-only data obtained by illuminating the chemical compound under study with electromagnetic radiation of different wavelengths has long contributed to scientific processes. For example, in the field of DNA amplification, various fluorescent dyes and fluorescent probes are used to determine the amplification of the target DNA sequence. Depending on the type of fluorescent dye or fluorescent probe used, fluorescence is detected by exposing the fluorescent dye or fluorescence probe to the appropriate electromagnetic radiation and viewing the resulting fluorescence through a color filter.

[0003] This is the standard technology used to analyze PCR amplification products. PCR amplification is usually performed in miniature tubes. Since PCR can take several hours, it is usually most effective, and therefore preferable, to simultaneously carry out several PCR reactions in one batch. For this, several reactions are carried out simultaneously in a group of test tubes. Due to the space requirements of PCR devices, groups of tubes are most often placed in a square or round configuration.

[0004] The square or round arrangement of tubes used in conventional PCR thermal cycling requires any fluorescence detection by looking at the tubes from above using a light source, usually located below the tubes, or vice versa. Such an arrangement is not ideal for detecting fluorescence, since light passes from below and shines into the eyes of the observer. Because of this, most of the fluorescence is eroded, making it difficult to detect differences in fluorescence. Visual detection is best done when viewing tubes at an angle more or less perpendicular to the direction of light illuminating the tubes. However, the location of the tubes in a traditional square or rectangular configuration makes it difficult or impossible to view from the side due to the fact that the tubes closest to the observer close the more distant tubes from the view of the observer.

[0005] Thanks to newer and faster DNA amplification methods, amplification is not necessary in large batches. Thanks to newer amplification methods, smaller batches of DNA can be amplified at optimal cost. This allows you to place the tubes in one row or in several rows arranged in a checkerboard pattern. In turn, this provides an opportunity to view the tubes from the side or at an angle more or less perpendicular to the direction of illumination.

[0006] Thus, a further technical description discloses a chemical and biochemical detector, distinguishable to the naked eye, for qualitative and quantitative detection.

[0007] This detector provides quantitative and qualitative detection of fluorescent, phosphorescent, luminescent, electrochemical or colorimetric results. The device can also be adapted to several color reactions, including higher-order duplex, triplex and multiplex reactions. In one example, for the read fluorescence data, the device will be configured to use the excitation source (s) corresponding to the reporter dye and filtering the result (s) corresponding to the study, while the reactions use excitation sources corresponding to the reporter dye and filtering the results, relevant to the study.

[0008] The detector is adapted to adapt to any chemical or biochemical readout format required for an existing test. The universality of the system is based on two design features of the device: 1) the user choices of chemical and biochemical detection are numerous, because the device can be easily adapted to any desired light source and can be combined with any desired filtering method. The combination of lighting and filtering options allows you to set up several possible combinations of fluorescent, phosphorescent, luminescent or colorimetric indicators inside the detector.

[0009] This device allows you to use a wide range of possible wavelengths of light in combination with fluorophores and filtering the detected results on the device, on the observer (glasses) or on the device and on the observer.

[0010] The features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in the following description and will be partially apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present invention without undue experimentation. The features and advantages of the present invention can be realized and obtained using tools and combinations separately indicated in the attached claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF GRAPHIC MATERIALS

[0011] The features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description, presented in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

in FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a device;

in FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the device;

in FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the device;

in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of a device comprising thermal blocks;

in FIG. 5 is a top view of yet another embodiment of a device comprising rows of holders.

In FIG. 6 is a side view of yet another embodiment of a device comprising a pivot window.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] To facilitate understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments depicted in the graphic materials, and specific terminology will be used to describe them. However, it should be understood that this is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Any changes and further modifications of the innovative features depicted here, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention, as depicted here, which may be obvious to a person skilled in the art familiar with this invention should be considered to be within the scope of the claimed invention.

[0013] Before disclosing and describing the present invention, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific configurations, process steps, and materials described herein, since such configurations, process steps, and materials may vary to some extent. It should also be understood that the terminology used here is used only to describe specific embodiments and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0014] Any publications and other reference materials referenced here to describe the premises of the invention and to provide further details regarding its practical implementation, are hereby fully incorporated into this description by reference with the following exception: In case any part of these reference materials contradicts this application, this application replaces the referenced materials. Reference materials described herein are provided solely for their disclosure before the filing date of this application. Nothing in this application should be construed as an assumption or assumption that the inventors are not authorized to retroactively date such an invention based on a previous invention or to distinguish the present invention from the subject disclosed in the referenced materials.

[0015] It should be noted that, as used in this technical description and the attached claims, singular references also include plural references, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0016] In the description and claims of the present invention, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions set forth below.

[0017] As used here, the terms "comprising", "including", "consisting of", "characterized in that" and their grammatical equivalents are inclusive or non-limiting terms that do not exclude additional, not listed elements or steps of the method.

[0018] As used here, the phrase "consisting of" and its grammatical equivalents exclude any element, step or ingredient not specified in the claims.

[0019] As used here, the phrase "consisting essentially of" and its grammatical equivalents limit the scope of the claims to specific materials or steps and those that do not materially affect the main and innovative characteristics or characteristics of the claimed invention.

[0020] As used here, the term "proximal" in the broad sense refers to the concept of the nearest position.

[0021] As used here, the term "distal" generally refers to the position opposite to the proximal, and thus to the concept of a distant position or the most distant position, depending on the context.

[0022] As used here, the phrase “in the at least partial direction from the proximal to the distal” refers generally to a two-dimensional concept of a direction in which the “proximal to distal” direction defines one direction or one size. An object extending in a direction not parallel to the “proximal to distal” direction, that is, at an angle to it that is not straight, thus includes two direction components, one of which is in the “proximal to distal” direction and the other is in the direction perpendicular to the direction “from proximal to distal”.

[0023] FIG. 1 depicts a portable battery-powered hand-held device 10 for monitoring the visual signal of a chemical indicator. As shown in FIG. 1, the device comprises a housing 14. In one embodiment, the size and shape of the housing 14 allows an individual user to easily hold it in his hand. The housing 14 contains a switch 18 that activates the lighting function (not shown) of the device 10. The device 10 also includes a protective screen 20. The protective screen 20 is removably attached to the housing 14. The removable protective screen 20 contains a hole 22. The shape and size of this hole 22 allows it can accommodate window 26. This window 26 can be made of glass, plastic, mica, any polymer or other composite material known to specialists in this field. Window 26 may be transparent or opaque. The window may be colored. In the illustrated embodiment, the window 26 is permanently attached to the protective shield 20. The protective shield 20 can be detached from the housing 14. In this embodiment, several protective shields 20 can be used, with each protective shield 20 containing a window 26 of a different color. This embodiment allows the user to replace windows 26 with windows of different colors by attaching other protective shields 20 to the housing 14. Although the power supply in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a battery, the power source may be alternating current from a conventional wall outlet, a solar battery, or any other power source known to those skilled in the art.

[0024] In yet another embodiment, the protective shield 20 is permanently attached to the housing 10. In this embodiment, the window 26 is removably attached to the protective shield 20. This allows the user to use windows 26 of various colors by removing the installed window 26 and replacing it with window 26 desired color.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the device 10. The housing 14 comprises at least one tube rack 40. At least one tube rack 40 is more or less hollow and contains sockets 34, the size and shape of which allows tubes 38 to be accommodated. The tubes 38 contain protrusions located at their open ends, the diameter of which is larger than the diameter of the nests 34. When the tubes 38 are inserted into sockets 34, protrusions prevent the tubes 38 from completely passing through the socket 34. Thus, the tube rack 40 and sockets 34 provide a structure for hanging and holding the tubes in position for illumination and viewing by an observer.

[0026] The tube rack 40 includes a lumen 30 providing an overview of the interior of the tube rack 40. The lumen 30 is in line with the opening 22 in the shield 20, so that the user is given a good overview of the interior of the tube rack 40. The hole 22, as well as the lumen 30, are arranged so that at least a portion of the tubes 38 are visible to the observer, so that the observer looking out the window looks at the tubes 38 in a more or less lateral or less perpendicular manner to the longitudinal axis of the tubes 38.

[0027] In another embodiment, at least one tube 38 may be suspended and held in place by clamps, brackets, or any other means known to those skilled in the art. Such an embodiment does not require a rack 40 for tubes and a lumen 30 and provides an overview of the tubes 38 directly through the hole.

[0028] In FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a housing 14 providing an overview of the electronic architecture of the device 10. According to this embodiment, the housing comprises a circuit board 44 electrically connected to the switch 18. The electronic architecture also includes a power supply 48 electrically connected 50 to the switch 18, so that when turned on of the switch 18, energy is supplied from the power supply 48 to the circuit board 44. The circuit board 44 contains cartridges 45 into which at least one lighting device 46 can be inserted. Illuminator The device 46 may be an incandescent lamp, an LED or any other lighting device that is familiar to those skilled in the art. When power is applied to the circuit board 44, at least one lighting device 46 illuminates the tubes 38. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the mounting plate 44 and at least one lighting device 46 are located below the sockets 34, so that when the tubes 38 are suspended in the interior of the tube rack 40, at least one lighting device illuminates the tube from the bottom of the tube. This leads to the fact that the observer sees the tubes through the hole and the lumen at a more or less right angle to the direction of the light emitted by at least one lighting device 46. The color of the emitted light can be changed by changing the type of lighting device 46. This can be done by replacing one or more separate lighting devices 46 in the circuit board. Alternatively, this can be done by disconnecting and removing the existing circuit board and replacing it with a circuit board containing one or more lighting devices 46 of the desired color. Alternatively, the circuit board may include lighting devices 46 of different colors, selectable by the user. This can be done, for example, by connecting all the lighting devices 46 of the same color to a separate circuit in the circuit board and allowing the user to supply power to one or more circuits that activate the lighting devices that create the desired and specific color of the chemical indication.

[0029] In an alternative embodiment, the aperture 22, as well as the lumen 30, are arranged so that an observer looking through the window sees the tubes at an angle of 80 degrees or more with respect to the angle of incidence of the light.

[0030] In an alternative embodiment, the aperture 22, as well as the lumen 30, are arranged such that an observer looking through a window sees tubes at an angle of 70 degrees or more with respect to the angle of incidence of light.

[0031] In an alternative embodiment, the aperture 22, as well as the lumen 30, are arranged so that an observer looking through the window sees tubes at an angle of 60 degrees or more with respect to the angle of incidence of light.

[0032] In an alternative embodiment, the aperture 22, as well as the lumen 30, are arranged such that an observer looking through a window sees tubes at an angle of 50 degrees or more with respect to the angle of incidence of light.

[0033] In an alternative embodiment, the aperture 22, as well as the lumen 30, are arranged so that an observer looking through a window sees tubes at an angle of 40 degrees or more with respect to the angle of incidence of light.

[0034] In an alternative embodiment, the aperture 22, as well as the lumen 30, are arranged so that an observer looking through the window sees the tubes at an angle of 30 degrees or more with respect to the angle of incidence of the light.

[0035] In an alternative embodiment, the aperture 22, as well as the lumen 30, are arranged so that an observer looking through the window sees the tubes at an angle of 20 degrees or more with respect to the angle of incidence of the light.

[0036] In an alternative embodiment, the aperture 22, as well as the lumen 30, are arranged so that an observer looking through the window sees the tubes at an angle of 10 degrees or more with respect to the angle of incidence of the light.

[0037] In an alternative embodiment, the aperture 22, as well as the lumen 30, are arranged such that an observer looking through a window sees tubes at an angle of 5 degrees or more with respect to the angle of incidence of light.

[0038] In an alternative embodiment, the aperture 22 as well as the lumen 30 are arranged so that an observer looking through the window sees the tubes at an angle of 1 degree or more with respect to the angle of incidence of the light.

[0039] In yet another embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, the device comprises a group of thermoblocks 58 located proximate to the tubes 38 so as to be in thermal communication with the tubes 38. The thermoblocks 58 are electrically connected to the circuit board 44, so that when by applying power to the circuit board 44, power is also supplied to the thermoblocks 58. The electrical connection 50 between the thermoblocks 58 and the power supply 48 may contain at least one resistor 59 or some other device known to specialists in this field, Noe reduce the power current supplied to one or more fuser 58 so that the power current supplied to the fuser from one side tubes more current supplied to the fuser 58 on the other side of the tube. This difference in current strength forms a temperature difference between the thermoblocks 58, sufficient to create a convection current inside the tube. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the thermoblocks 58 more or less correspond to the shape of the tubes 38, providing uniform heat transfer between the thermoblocks 58 and the tubes 38.

[0040] In yet another embodiment, the device 10 comprises means for adjusting the temperature of the thermal blocks. For example, one or more rheostats can be located in the electrical circuit between the power source and the thermoblocks 58, so that the temperature of one or more thermoblocks 58 can be changed. The temperature can also be controlled by another device or a combination of devices known to those skilled in the art.

[0041] In yet another embodiment, the device 10 may comprise a heating element and / or a cooling element, so that thermal cycling of the device within a predetermined temperature range can be arranged.

[0042] In yet another embodiment, the device does not contain an internal light source, but instead contains a lumen in the interior of the housing. This clearance can be located at the rear or at the bottom of the device 10. The size and shape of the open part allow illumination from a light source located outside the device 10 to pass into the device 10 and illuminate the tubes 38.

[0043] In another embodiment, the device comprises a photosensitive measuring device that records the wavelength of light emitted from the test tube. The light-sensitive measuring device is electrically connected to a processor capable of executing a machine-readable code that converts the recorded wavelength to digital format. This digitized data can then be stored in a memory device electrically connected to the processor. Digitized data may also be displayed in an output device electrically coupled to a processor and / or memory.

[0044] In yet another embodiment, the opening 22 in the shield 20 does not contain a window 26. In this embodiment, the observer uses a filter outside the device to make the indicator visible. For example, a filter can be glasses with lenses of a suitable color.

[0045] In yet another embodiment, the light source is located on the side of the test tubes 38 and the inspection hole is located above the test tubes 38. In yet another embodiment, the light source is located on the side of test tubes 38 and the inspection hole is located under the test tubes 38. In yet another embodiment, the light source located more or less above the tubes 38 and the inspection hole 22 is located on the side of the tubes 38.

[0046] In another embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, the test tube slots 34 are arranged in at least two rows in a checkerboard pattern. As shown in FIG. 5, the tube sockets 34 are arranged in a first row 64 and a second row 60. The tube sockets 34 are staggered so that the tubes 38 in the second row 60 are not blocked by the tubes 38 in the first row 64 from the view of an observer looking through the hole.

[0047] In yet another embodiment, depicted in FIG. 6, windows 68 of different colors are integrated in the belt mechanism 70 inside the device 10. The belt mechanism 70 is stretched between two rotating rollers 72. One of the rotating rollers is connected to the drive roller 76. When the drive roller 76 rotates, it causes the belt conveyor to move, which, in its in turn, causes windows 68 of various colors to move between at least one rotating roller 72. Thus, the user can change the color of windows 68 by controlling the drive roller 76 until a window of the desired color appears before opening 22. When moving windows 68 of different colors between the rotating rollers are sequentially moved past the opening 22. In addition, FIG. 6 shows a lid 80 attached to the top of the device 10. The lid 80 is configured to block at least a portion of the ambient light.

[0048] In yet another embodiment, the device 10 is too large to be held easily in the hand.

Claims (22)

1. A device for detecting a chemical indicator, comprising: a housing containing: hole; means for providing lighting and a structure for holding at least one tube in position for viewing through an opening, characterized in that the hole, means for providing illumination, and a structure for holding at least one tube are configured such that when at least one tube is placed in the device, the observer sees at least one tube at an angle more or less perpendicular to the direction of illumination; however, the device contains at least two windows that are interchangeable. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hole, the means for providing illumination and the structure for holding at least one tube are made so that the observer sees at least one tube at an angle of 1 ° or more relative to the direction lighting. 3. The device according to p. 1, characterized in that the hole, the means for providing lighting and the structure for holding at least one tube are made so that the observer sees at least one tube at an angle of 10 ° or more relative to the direction lighting. 4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hole, the means for providing lighting and the structure for holding at least one tube are made so that the observer sees at least one tube at an angle of 5 ° or more relative to the direction lighting. 5. The device according to p. 1, characterized in that the hole, the means for providing lighting and the structure for holding at least one tube are made so that the observer sees at least one tube at an angle of 10 ° or more relative to the direction lighting. 6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hole, the means for providing lighting and the structure for holding at least one tube are made so that the observer sees at least one tube at an angle of 20 ° or more relative to the direction lighting. 7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hole, the means for providing illumination and the structure for holding at least one tube are made so that the observer sees at least one tube at an angle of 30 ° or more relative to the direction lighting. 8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hole, the means for providing lighting and the structure for holding at least one tube are made so that the observer sees at least one tube at an angle of 40 ° or more relative to the direction lighting. 9. The device according to p. 1, characterized in that the hole, the means for providing lighting and the structure for holding at least one tube are made so that the observer sees at least one tube at an angle of 50 ° or more relative to the direction lighting. 10. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hole, the means for providing lighting and the structure for holding at least one tube are made so that the observer sees at least one tube at an angle of 60 ° or more relative to the direction lighting. 11. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hole, the means for providing lighting and the structure for holding at least one tube are made so that the observer sees at least one tube at an angle of 70 ° or more relative to the direction lighting. 12. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hole, the means for providing lighting and the structure for holding at least one tube are made so that the observer sees at least one tube at an angle of 80 ° or more relative to the direction lighting. 13. The device according to p. 1, characterized in that it further comprises a light source. 14. The device according to p. 13, characterized in that the color of the light source can be changed. 15. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one window is color. 16. The device according to p. 1, characterized in that it further comprises at least one fuser. 17. The device according to p. 1, characterized in that it further comprises a top cover. 18. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the nests for the tubes are arranged in two rows in a checkerboard pattern.

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